Uterine stjppobter



" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC.

A. H. MCNAIR, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

.my l y UTERINE SUPPORTER.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 3,204,5dated July 28, 1843.

To all wit-0m t may concern:

Be it known `that I, ALEXANDER H. MGNAIR, of the city of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Instrument, which I have termed Abdominal Supporter and Uterus Restorerfthe intention of which is to restore thewomb to its proper location with` out injury in case of displacement of the organ and also for the purpose of facilitat ing the application of remedies in cases such as the cancer.

To enable those skilled in the art of Surgery (and others if occasion requires) to make and touse my instrument, I will proceed to describe its construction and mode of application; and for the purpose of rendering my description more comprehensible I will divide it into four parts, and will first describe that part of the instrument which is to act as a supporter to the abdomen; second, the part which is to support the uterus restorer; third, the construction of the uterus restorer, and, fourth, the manner of using the instrument.

First. The part represented in the drawin' b Figure.v l is a stri) of canvas 1t may be made of silk or any other cloth) about five inches wide and ten long; it is to be placed over the lower part of the abdomen, extending in breadth from the promif nency of the lower part of the abdomen or os pubis upward, and in length from within about two inches of the os ilium or haunch bone at theright side of the body, to within two inches to the same bone of the same name on the left side of the bdy. The parts represented by Figs. 2, 3, 4f, and 5 are four straps of canvas, each about one and a half inches broad; they are attached to the abo-ve described broad bandage and form the abdominal supporter. These straps pass around the body and are to be secured in front by pins. The two lowermost represented by 3 and 5 are to pass around below the os ilium or haunch bone, which has the tendency of keeping the abdominal supporter in its proper place. Iwould here remark that this supporter is not for the purpose of supporting the uterus, or for the purpose of removing the prolapsus by pressure made over the region of the abdomen, that being altogether impo-ssible and extremely dangerous on account of the pressure, which would be required, even for the purpose of`besto'wing temporary relief, It

would have a tendency of preventing the blood from passing freelyto and from the lower part of the body, and in this way cause congestion of the brain, lungs and other vital parts. The supporter I have described above is therefore merely for the purpose of affording the most gentle support to the abdomen and at the same time admitting of the body being bent without difficulty. It is also for supporting the hereafter to be described parts of the instrument.

Second. The part of the instrument to be described here I have termed the uterine supporter; it being intended to support the uterine restorer. It is composed of strips of yielding metal, such as can be easy bent to any convenient shape. tin is the most proper. It is somewhat of a spider shape, having a body and two long and two short prongs. The body is about the shape of a dollar, with its edges rounded (Fig. 8 represents the external view of it). It has a hole in its center about half an inch in diameter (see Fig. ll) and four small Silver or block hooks on its external surface, the intent-ion i strument, is to be immediately below .they

os pubis, or prominent bone of the abdomen. Attached to the upper side of this plate or body, are two long prongs alluded to above. y

At the place where they are attached, which is immediately below the os pubis, they diverge about three inches and pass upward, one on each side of the os pubis, to be attached to the abdominal supporterimmediately above the os pubis. They are about three and a half inches in length, the eighth of an inch thick and half an `inch broad, with the undermost surface rounded (see Figs. 6 and 7). These prongs being one at each side of theos pubis, the body of the uterine supporter below and the abdominal supporter above, form a kind of ring around the bone, which has the tendency of preventing the instrument moving out of its place.`

broad; they diverge gradually from their.

origin to their termination, where they are about an inch distant from each other and `have holes` about half` aninch along their ends, for the purpose of being armed with straps of canvas, about an inch wide, for the purpose of passing around the back partof the thigh, to be attached to the straps of the abdominal supporter, where they are passing around the back part of the body (see l2 and 13). rFhis part of the instrument is merely for the purpose of supporting the uterine restorer and keeping the various parts in their proper places.

Third. In this place I propose describing the construction of the uterine restorer. Before proceeding however, l will state, that notwithstanding this part of the instrument may be supposed by the inexperienced observer, to operate in the same way as the various pesseries, such as the gilt ball, the coil of wire, the ring of elastic gum etc. do. I trust however', to be able to make it appear, that the intention of this part of the instrument, is to act altogether differ-ent and with much better effect, than anything that has been invented, for the purpos-e of removing the complaint. It is composed of a fold of silver wire, it may however be made of any incorrodible metal. The wire used in forming the fold, is to vary with the size of the instrument required. It ought to be of sufficient thickness to form a fold of sufficient strength and elasticity to bear up, at least, two ounces in weight, without yielding more than one inch. The circumference and length of the fold must also be goverened by circumstances. The Fig. le represents th-e fold of wire, it is about three and a half inches in length, when contracted, as it is-..in the drawing, but is capable of extending, by its own elastic nature, to five inches with suiiicient strength to accomplish the object intended. For about two inches from its supporter, or lower end, its circumference is about two inches. Above this and towards its upper end it widens to the extent of four inches (see Fig. 15). The upper end of the fold is closed by the folding of the same wire, which is used in forming the body, and presents a beautiful concaved surface (see Fig. 16) for the purpose of presenting the widest space possible to the pressure of the uterus. In the cavity of the wide end of the uterine restorer or fold, and in the center of the internal surface of its concaved end, is a small ring about the fourth of an inch in diameter' (see 17). It is formed on the end of the wire intended for the fold and is placed in its location at the commencement of forming the fold, being the first part or beginning of it. The ring being formed in this manner, removes all necessity for splicing or fastening any contrivance to the concaved end of the fold, which would render it imperfect and present a rough surface on the part intended to come in contact with and press against the uterus. The intention of this ring will be hereafter explained. The

small end of the uterine restorer is attached to the body of the uterine supporter, above described and directly over the round hole mentioned, as being represented by Fig. 8 and in the center of the body of the supporter, forming a straight cavity or opening through it and the fold or restorer. Itis intended to admit of the secretions passing through without interrupting, and also admitting of remedies being thrown up in the form of a. mash. Attached to the ring in the center of the wide end of the fold alluded to above, is a silk cord (see 1S it is red) that passes the whole length of the internal part of the uterine restorer and through the round hole in the center of the uterine supporter, to be attached to the small hooks on its external surface (see 20). The cord is for the purpose of shortening the fold or uterine restorer and thereby preventing it from pressing too sever-ely against the uterus at first. It is also for the purpose of enabling the wearer to change its position, so as to cause it to press against different parts of the uterus, without removing it from the body. This is done by moving the silk cord from one part of the supporter to another, which is of the greatest moment, as the uterus seldom descends in a perpendicular direction, but from one side to the other, 0r from before backwards. It will be found when the cord is fixed, as it is to the drawing, or is attached to the hook represented by 20 that the rest-orer will turn forward;

when it is attached to the hook on the opposite side-represented by 22, it will pass directly backwards, as it is in the model, and when it is attached to the hooks 21 and 23 it will press on either side, corresponding with the place, where it is attached.

Fourth. The manner of applying and using the instrument is of the greatest importance. It is not to be used as the common pesseries, merely as a play, but is to be introduced and only permitted to make the most gentle pressure upon the uterus at first and thereby gradually restore it to the proper location. rI he slightest assistance being all that is necessary to cause the natural contraction of the parts concerned in supporting the organ. lVhen the instrument is to be introduced, the silk cord is drawn tight, so as to cause a firm contraction of the restorer or fold of wire. After it is introduced and felt pressing against the uterus, the silk cord is to be fastened to one of the Ahooks and after a day ort-wo changed to anynecessary to observe, is to causev acontraction by drawing the silk cord downward. The cause of the inventor having adesire, to make the instrument known to the public, is his knowledge of its efficacy in removing the distressing complaint for which it is intended; and he has on this account perhaps been more particular in describing its conw struction than will be thought necessary. He trusts however, that his motives for doing so, will be appreciated.

What I claim as my invention and desire t0 secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The manner of applying the instrument I have termed abdominal supporter and uterine restorer, namely, by making gradual 15 pressure upon the uterus by means `of the ring in the center of the concaved end of the restorer, around with the silk cord, by which the pressure of the restorer is graduated.

2. Further, the manner of changing the 20 position of the restorer, by means of the hooks to which the silk cord is attached, on

the external surface of the supporter, asA 

